Florida Schools Sue Step Up For Students Over Scholarship Payment Delays
A legal dispute has emerged in Florida as several private schools have filed a lawsuit against Step Up For Students, the nonprofit organization tasked with administering state scholarship funds. The schools allege significant delays and inconsistencies in receiving these funds, leading to financial difficulties and disruptions in educational services.
Schools Detail Payment Issues
The lawsuit, filed in Duval County, involves Square Pegs Learning Center, Mountaineer’s School of Autism, Lakeland Institute for Learning, Educational Harbor Christian School, Diverse Abilities School, ICITY Christian School and Dickens Sanomi Academy. These institutions serve students utilizing the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options, Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities, and the Hope Scholarship programs.
Delays and Financial Strain
According to the complaint, Step Up For Students approved scholarship funding for eligible students but then failed to deliver payments in a timely or consistent manner. Schools report delays ranging from 90 days to over a year, alongside instances of partial payments, unexplained reductions in funding, and, in some cases, a complete lack of payment for more than two years.
Terry Harrison, executive director of ICITY Christian School in Jacksonville, stated the lawsuit is about “accountability, it is transparency and it is ensuring that our programs funded for students operate as intended under the law.” The schools claim they relied on the approved funding to manage operations, including staffing and resource allocation, particularly for students with disabilities.
Legal Claims and Relief Sought
The lawsuit alleges breach of contract, operational nonperformance, and breach of fiduciary duty on the part of Step Up For Students. The plaintiffs are seeking injunctive relief, which would compel the organization to promptly disburse the approved scholarship funds. They are also requesting damages exceeding $50,000, along with associated costs and interest, and have requested a jury trial.
Step Up For Students has acknowledged operational challenges stemming from recent legislative expansions that increased the volume of scholarships it manages. However, the schools contend that the organization did not implement sufficient safeguards to prevent the prolonged payment delays.
The schools emphasize their inability to impose tuition penalties or deny access to scholarship students, as doing so would contradict the programs’ purpose and negatively impact vulnerable students.
Step Up For Students’ Response
Step Up For Students responded to the lawsuit by stating they have “worked extremely closely with these schools who believe they have not been fully funded” and that their claims are “unfounded.” The organization specifically addressed concerns regarding “matrix scores” for students with unique abilities, clarifying that these scores are determined by district schools and the state, not Step Up For Students. They also stated the lawsuit is “motivated by their goal of effecting policy and legislative changes, which would undermine anti-fraud controls.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What scholarship programs are involved in this lawsuit?
The lawsuit involves the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options, Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities, and the Hope Scholarship programs.
What is Step Up For Students’ role in these programs?
Step Up For Students is designated by the state to manage these scholarship programs.
What is the organization seeking through this lawsuit?
The schools are seeking damages exceeding $50,000, injunctive relief to compel prompt disbursement of funds, and a jury trial.
How might this legal challenge affect the future of scholarship programs in Florida?